Friday, 27 February 2009
India in Africa medical link-up
India has launched a hi-tech project it says will provide medical
education and better health care in Africa.
Launched by Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Delhi, the
project will at first connect 11 African countries with India.
The services will include virtual classes for medical staff and online
medical consultations.
India is highly conscious of China's involvement in Africa and has
announced a number of joint projects.
Degrees
Mr Mukherjee described the project as bridging the digital divide
between India and Africa.
Patients in parts of rural Africa will soon be able to seek medical advice
from Indian doctors via satellite and fibre-optic link-ups.
Nurses will get training and virtual classrooms will help around 10,000
African students annually get specialised degrees from universities.
Online medical consultations will be provided every day for one hour to
isolated hospitals.
To start with, 11 African countries including Ethiopia, Senegal, Nigeria
and Ghana will be connected with India.
By June eight more countries will be covered and eventually the
offices of 53 African heads of state will be linked.
India in Africa medical link-up
By Sunil Rahman